JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 11, 2018 - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources announces the availability of the 2018 Annual Census of Missouri Public Water Systems during national Drinking Water Week. This report defines the quality and safety of drinking water provided by Missouri's 2,732 public water systems for 2017.
The annual Census of Missouri Public Water Systems provides detailed information regarding the volume, source water type, population and other characteristics of water systems. In addition, test results for selected chemicals are included along with the types of treatments used by Missouri water systems.
Of the 6.1 million people living in Missouri, 5.3 million people rely on water from public drinking water systems as their source of drinking water. In 2017, 63 community surface water systems served a population of 3.37 million (about 55 percent of Missouri’s total population) and 1,204 community groundwater systems served 2 million (about 33 percent of Missouri’s population). Most of the water systems in Missouri source their water from groundwater; however, the source serving the largest population is surface water. The Missouri River is the water source for most of the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas, serving about half of Missouri’s population.
"This report lets Missourians know the source of their drinking water and type of treatment it receives," said David Lamb, chief of the Department of Natural Resources’ Public Drinking Water Branch. "When people drink the water from a public water system in Missouri, they can be confident the water is being monitored to ensure it is safe and meets state and federal standards. Our department works closely with water systems to make sure any problems are addressed quickly and that long-term solutions are in place to protect the health of Missouri's citizens."
The department is required to produce a census annually under the Missouri Revised Statutes, Title XL, Chapter 640, Section 640.120. To obtain a copy of the 2018 Census of Missouri Public Water Systems, call the Department of Natural Resources’ Public Drinking Water Branch at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-0135 or download a copy at https://dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/census.